12-Jan-2026 Model steering is a more efficient way to train AI models Texas A&M University Training artificial intelligence models is costly. Researchers estimate that training costs for the largest frontier models will exceed $1 billion by 2027. Costs are incurred through hardware, including large data centers, energy needs and salaries for research and development staff. The massive training price tag limits the labs and researchers that can afford to work with this technology. Research from Dr. Tianbao Yang in Texas A&M University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering may level the playing field.
12-Jan-2026 Doubling down on reliability, risk and resilience from disasters Rice University Resilience to disasters is not optional — it is essential to public safety, national security, economic prosperity and quality of life. Rice University’s civil and environmental engineering department (CEE) has established a national reputation for tackling one of society’s most pressing challenges: enhancing our understanding of and mitigating the risks posed by natural hazards to our communities and infrastructure. From pioneering work in probabilistic mechanics and structural system identification to breakthroughs in modeling infrastructure interdependencies and multihazard vulnerability, Rice CEE researchers have shaped the field and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in disaster risk, reliability and resilience.
12-Jan-2026 Metal manufacturing innovation: Inside MDF and Lincoln Electric’s partnership DOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory The partnership began by adapting robotic arc welding into a new form of large-scale metal 3D printing, enabling complex geometries, multi-material deposition and dramatically shorter production timelines. Joint research led to breakthroughs in real-time monitoring, materials qualification and multi-robot coordination, culminating in a system capable of depositing up to 100 pounds of metal per hour. Outcomes from the collaboration are already being applied across U.S. industry, including rapid fabrication of large molds, tooling and replacement parts that would traditionally require months or years to source overseas.
9-Jan-2026 Predicting prostate cancer recurrence through power of AI Mayo Clinic To help meet the potentially complex needs of patients after prostate cancer treatment and offer the precision and care necessary in the follow-up journey, Mayo Clinic’s Department of Radiation Oncology developed the PSA Control Tower. This is an intelligent monitoring tool designed to support clinicians in keeping a close, ongoing watch over patients after treatment.
9-Jan-2026 Pandora, a keen-eyed satellite built to study exoplanets, readies for launch University of Arizona After clearing its last hurdle on its way to space, the Pandora satellite mission is awaiting to be launched into orbit, where it will study at least 20 exoplanets and their host stars over long periods of time. The data will establish a firm foundation for interpreting measurements by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and future missions aimed at searching for habitable worlds. Funder NASA Headquarters
9-Jan-2026 What does cannabis 'rescheduling' mean for science and society? Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan Cannabis (marijuana) may get rescheduled on the federal level, which could open the door for much more research than was possible before. Four U-M experts comment.
8-Jan-2026 Inside one of the world’s largest controlled explosions: The Detonation Research Test Facility Texas A&M University From industrial safety and Mach-speed propulsions to the birth of diamonds and the death of stars, Texas A&M’s colossal detonation facility turns raw explosions into breakthrough discoveries.
8-Jan-2026 Review article|Harnessing generative AI for enhanced disaster management: A systematic review Big Earth Data As AI and large language models (LLMs) advance, organizations increasingly apply them in disaster management to enhance decision support, business continuity, and early warning. This study uses a PRISMA-based systematic review to summarize trends and benefits of AI and LLM in disaster operations, incorporates a TOWS-based SWOT analysis to identify strategic directions, and highlights ethics and transparency as key challenges for full implementation. Journal Big Earth Data
8-Jan-2026 How light reflects on leaves may help researchers identify dying forests University of Notre Dame A new study from researchers at the University of Notre Dame, published in Nature: Communications Earth & Environment, uncovers a more comprehensive picture of forest health. Funded by NASA, the research shows that spectral reflectance—a measurement obtained from satellite images—corresponds with the expression of specific genes. Journal Communications Earth & Environment Funder NASA Headquarters
8-Jan-2026 Global sustainability ‘reset’ needed say academics Aberystwyth Scientists are calling for a ‘systems reset’ in how sustainable development is understood and pursued. Journal Nature
